Chapter 46

46.495(2)(a) (a) The county treasurer and each director of a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22 or 46.23 shall monthly certify under oath to the department in such manner as the department prescribes the claim of the county for state reimbursement under this section and if the department approves such claim it shall certify to the department of administration for reimbursement to the county for amounts due under this subsection and payment claimed to be made to the counties monthly. The department may make advance payments prior to the beginning of each month equal to one-twelfth of the contracted amount.

46.495(2)(b) (b) To facilitate prompt reimbursement the certificate of the department may be based on the certified statements of the county officers filed under par. (a). Funds recovered from audit adjustments from a prior fiscal year may be included in subsequent certifications only to pay counties owed funds as a result of any audit adjustment. By September 30 of each year the department shall submit a report to the appropriate standing committees under s. 13.172 (3) on funds recovered and paid out during the previous calendar year as a result of audit adjustments.

46.495 History History: 1995 a. 27 ss. 3129, 3132, 3135 to 3139; 1995 a. 289, 404; 1997 a. 3, 27, 252; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 318; 2005 a. 25 ss. 883, 884, 2502, 2510; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 28.

46.50 46.50 State mental health authority. In order to promote coordination and efficient development of mental health services by the state and by municipalities in the state, the department is declared to be the state mental health authority of Wisconsin and as such is authorized to receive federal grants in aid and to cooperate with the federal government in promoting the extension of such services.

46.52 46.52 Systems change grants. From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (5) (md), the department shall distribute funds to each grant recipient under this section so as to permit initial phasing in of recovery-oriented system changes, prevention and early intervention strategies, and consumer and family involvement for individuals with mental illness. At least 10 percent of the funds distributed shall be for children with mental illness.

46.52 History History: 1995 a. 27, 216; 1997 a. 27; 2001 a. 16; 2005 a. 25; 2013 a. 20.

46.53 46.53 Mental health treatment provider training. From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (5) (md), the department may not distribute more than $182,000 in each fiscal year to provide training for mental health treatment professionals on new mental health treatment approaches in working with special populations, including seriously mentally ill individuals and children with serious emotional disturbances, and on the use of new mental health treatment medications.

46.53 History History: 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 27; 2013 a. 20.

46.535 46.535 Crisis intervention training grants. From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (5) (cd), the department shall award grants in the total amount of $1,000,000 in each fiscal biennium for mental health crisis intervention team training for law enforcement agencies, as described in s. 165.77 (1) (c), and correctional officers, as defined in s. 102.475 (8) (a).

46.535 History History: 2013 a. 126; 2021 a. 58.

46.536 46.536 Crisis program enhancement grants.

46.536(1) (1) From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (5) (cf), the department shall award grants in the total amount of $250,000 in each fiscal biennium to counties or regions comprised of multiple counties to establish or enhance crisis programs to serve individuals having crises in rural areas or counties, municipalities, or regions comprised of multiple counties or municipalities to establish and enhance law enforcement and behavioral health services emergency response collaboration programs. Grant recipients under this section shall match at least 25 percent of the grant amount awarded for the purpose that the grant is received. The department may not award any single grant in an amount greater than $100,000.

46.536(2) (2) By June 30 of each odd-numbered year, the department shall collect information from counties, municipalities, and regions comprised of multiple counties and municipalities receiving a grant under sub. (1) and submit a report to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3) on all of the following topics:

46.536(2)(a) (a) The uses that the grants were directed towards.

46.536(2)(b) (b) Outcomes generated as a result of enhancing relationships between law enforcement and crisis response services.

46.536(2)(c) (c) Any other accountability measures determined relevant by the department.

46.536 History History: 2013 a. 132; 2019 a. 9; 2021 a. 184.

46.54 46.54 Consumer and family self-help and peer-support programs. From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (5) (md), the department shall distribute $874,000 in each fiscal year to increase support for mental health family support projects, employment projects operated by consumers of mental health services, mental health crisis intervention and drop-in projects, and public mental health information activities.

46.54 History History: 1995 a. 27, 216; 1997 a. 27; 2001 a. 16; 2007 a. 20; 2013 a. 20.

46.545 46.545 Individual placement and support.

46.545(1) (1) 

46.545(1)(a) (a) The department shall create all of the following regional centers for individual placement and support for employment of individuals experiencing mental illness.

46.545(1)(a)1. 1. A northwestern Wisconsin region.

46.545(1)(a)2. 2. A south-central Wisconsin region.

46.545(1)(a)3. 3. A region consisting of a consortium of counties in northeastern Wisconsin.

46.545(1)(a)4. 4. A region consisting of a consortium of counties in central Wisconsin.

46.545(1)(a)5. 5. A region consisting of a consortium of counties in southeastern Wisconsin.

46.545(1)(b) (b) The department shall ensure that each county in the state is served by one of the regional centers created under par. (a).

46.545(1)(c) (c) The department may contract with existing organizations or consortiums to create any regional center.

46.545(2) (2) The department shall ensure that each regional center created under sub. (1) (a) has access to the services of all of the following:

46.545(2)(a) (a) An individual placement and support trainer or mentor, who is responsible for the duties required of a trainer or mentor by an evidence-based individual placement and support model of supported employment.

46.545(2)(b) (b) An individual placement and support supervisor who is responsible for the duties required of a supervisor by an evidence-based individual placement and support model of supported employment.

46.545(3) (3) 

46.545(3)(a) (a) The department shall award grants to county or tribal unit programs or employment sites implementing individual placement and support services or regional centers for any of the following activities:

46.545(3)(a)1. 1. Implementing individual placement and support programs.

46.545(3)(a)2. 2. Offsetting costs until a program is capable of billing the Medical Assistance program for any services covered under the Medical Assistance program.

46.545(3)(a)3. 3. Becoming a provider of vocational rehabilitation services through the department of workforce development.

46.545(3)(b) (b) An applicant for a grant under this subsection shall, in the grant application, identify future sources of possible funding to support the individual placement and support services program.

46.545(4) (4) The department and regional centers shall provide or arrange for work incentive benefits counseling for individuals who are not receiving vocational rehabilitation services from the department of workforce development.

46.545(5) (5) The department shall seek any approval from the federal department of health and human services that is necessary to obtain federal Medicaid matching funds, if available, for reimbursement of individual placement and support services.

46.545 History History: 2013 a. 131.

46.55 46.55 Grants for services to persons in treatment.

46.55(1) (1) The department shall award grants to county departments under s. 46.23 or 51.42 for the purpose of providing services to persons who are receiving alcohol and other drug abuse treatment, including child care services for the children of the persons.

46.55(2) (2) A county department under s. 46.23 or 51.42 may apply to the department for a grant under sub. (1). The department shall select applicants to receive grants under sub. (1) based on criteria developed by the department.

46.55(3) (3) A county department under s. 46.23 or 51.42 which receives a grant under sub. (1) shall give priority for the services to a family whose income is below 150 percent of the poverty line, under 42 USC 9902 (2), or to a family with only one parent living in the home.

46.55(3m) (3m) Within the limits of available funding under s. 20.435 (5) (mb), the department shall award grants under this section in a total amount for all grants of not more than $250,000 in each fiscal year.

46.55 History History: 1987 a. 339; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 16; 2013 a. 20.

46.56 46.56 Initiatives to provide coordinated services for children and families.

46.56(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

46.56(1)(a) (a) “Administering agency” means a department designated by a county board of supervisors, by the Milwaukee County mental health board in Milwaukee County, or by a tribe to administer an initiative.

46.56(1)(ar) (ar) “Advocacy” means all of the following:

46.56(1)(ar)1. 1. Actively supporting a child who is involved in 2 or more systems of care and his or her family under an initiative to enable their receipt of the full benefits of the initiative by ensuring that the coordinated services team approach to providing services and principles are followed.

46.56(1)(ar)2. 2. Helping families of a child who is involved in 2 or more systems of care gain access to and a voice in the decision making that establishes the child’s and family’s plan of care.

46.56(1)(ar)3. 3. Fostering strong working relationships among families, systems of care, and providers, with the goal of improving the lives of children who are involved in 2 or more systems of care and their families.

46.56(1)(b) (b) “Agency” means a public, tribal, or private organization that provides services and other resources for children and families.

46.56(1)(bm) (bm) “Child” means an individual under the age of 18.

46.56(1)(ce) (ce) “Coordinated services” means treatment, education, care, services, and other resources provided, in a coordinated manner, for a child who is involved in 2 or more systems of care and his or her family.

46.56(1)(cm) (cm) “Coordinated services plan of care” means a plan under sub. (8) (h) for a child who is involved in 2 or more systems of care and his or her family.

46.56(1)(cs) (cs) “Coordinated services team” means a group of individuals, including family members, service providers, and informal resource persons, who work together to respond to service needs of a child who is involved in 2 or more systems of care and his or her family.

46.56(1)(d) (d) “County department” means a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, 46.23, 51.42 or 51.437, unless the context requires otherwise.

46.56(1)(de) (de) “Family” means a child’s primary caregiver or caregivers and the child’s siblings.

46.56(1)(dm) (dm) “Family resources” means housing, environment, institutions, sources of income, services, education, a child’s extended family and community relationships, and other resources families need to raise their children.

46.56(1)(ds) (ds) “Initiative” means a system that is based on the strengths of children and their families for providing coordinated services to children who are involved in 2 or more systems of care and their families.

46.56(1)(e) (e) “Intake” means the process by which a service coordination agency or individuals designated by the coordinating committee under sub. (3) initially screen a child who is involved in 2 or more systems of care and his or her family to determine eligibility for an initiative and the process by which the service coordination agency determines the need for a comprehensive clinical mental health assessment.

46.56(1)(h) (h) “Interagency agreement” means a written document of understanding among service providers and other partner agencies that are represented on a coordinating committee under sub. (3) that identifies mutual responsibilities for implementing coordinated services for children who are involved in 2 or more systems of care and their families.

46.56(1)(hm) (hm) “Multi-entity initiative” means an initiative including more than one county or tribe that is established under sub. (2) (b).

46.56(1)(j) (j) “Parent” means a parent who has legal custody, as defined in s. 767.001 (2), of a child, or a guardian or legal custodian of a child, as defined in s. 48.02 (8) and (11).

46.56(1)(L) (L) “Service coordination” means the coordination of multiple service providers and family resources that are serving a particular child who is involved in 2 or more systems of care and his or her family. The term includes coordination of the assessment process, development of a coordinated services plan of care based on the strengths and needs identified in the assessment, advocacy, monitoring of the progress of the child or his or her family, facilitation of periodic reviews of the coordinated services plan of care, and coordination and maintenance of clear lines of communication among all family resources providers, the child, and his or her family.

46.56(1)(m) (m) “Service coordination agency” means a county department, tribe, agency, school district, cooperative educational service agency, or county children with disabilities education board designated in an interagency agreement by a coordinating committee under sub. (3) to provide intake and service coordination for one or more target groups of children who are involved in 2 or more systems of care and their families.

46.56(1)(n) (n) “Service coordinator” means an individual who is qualified by specialized training and experience with children who are involved in 2 or more systems of care and their families and who is appointed by the service coordination agency to provide service coordination for eligible children and their families.

46.56(1)(nm) (nm) “Service provider” means a professional from a system of care who meets one or more of the following criteria:

46.56(1)(nm)1. 1. Is skilled in providing treatment services, education, and other family resources for children who are involved in 2 or more systems of care and their families.

46.56(1)(nm)2. 2. Conducts comprehensive evaluations of the needs of children who are involved in 2 or more systems of care and their families for family resources.

46.56(1)(nm)3. 3. Possesses skills appropriate for and knowledge of the specific types of needs or dysfunctions presented by a child who is involved in 2 or more systems of care and is undergoing an assessment.

46.56(1)(nm)4. 4. Is currently providing treatment, education, or other family resources for a child who is involved in 2 or more systems of care, a family of such a child, or both.

46.56(1)(om) (om) “Severe disability” means a mental, physical, sensory, behavioral, emotional, or developmental disability, including severe emotional disturbance, or a combination of these disabilities, that meets all of the following conditions:

46.56(1)(om)1. 1. Is severe in degree.

46.56(1)(om)2. 2. Has persisted for at least one year or is expected to persist for at least one year.

46.56(1)(om)3. 3. Causes substantial limitations in a child’s ability to function in his or her family, school, or community and with his or her ability to cope with the ordinary demands of life.

46.56(1)(om)4. 4. Causes a child to need services or other resources from 2 or more systems of care.

46.56(1)(op) (op) “Severely emotionally disturbed child” has the meaning given in s. 49.45 (25) (a).

46.56(1)(or) (or) “System of care” means a public or private organization that provides specialized services for children with mental, physical, sensory, behavioral, emotional, or developmental disabilities or that provides child welfare, juvenile justice, educational, economic support, alcohol or other drug abuse, or health care services for children.

46.56(1)(p) (p) “Treatment services” means the individualized social, emotional, behavioral and medical services designed to bring about habilitation, rehabilitation and appropriate developmental growth of a child.

46.56(1)(q) (q) “Tribe” means a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state.

46.56(2) (2) Coordinating committee; administering agency; initiative funding.

46.56(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), if a county board of supervisors or the Milwaukee County mental health board establishes an initiative under s. 59.53 (7) or if a tribe establishes an initiative, the county board, Milwaukee County mental health board, or tribe shall appoint a coordinating committee and designate an administering agency. The initiative may be funded by the county or tribe or the county board of supervisors, Milwaukee County mental health board, or tribe may apply for funding by the state in accordance with sub. (15).

46.56(2)(b) (b) A county may enter into an agreement with one or more other counties or tribes to establish an initiative and a tribe may enter into an agreement with one or more counties or tribes to establish an initiative. The parties to the agreement shall designate in the agreement a single lead administrative county or lead administrative tribe. The county board of the lead administrative county, the Milwaukee County mental health board, if Milwaukee County is the lead administrative county, or the lead administrative tribe shall appoint a coordinating committee and designate an administering agency. The initiative may be funded by the participating entities, or the county board of supervisors of the lead administrative county, the Milwaukee County mental health board, if Milwaukee County is the lead administrative county, or the lead administrative tribe may apply for funding by the state in accordance with sub. (15).

46.56(3) (3) Coordinating committee.

46.56(3)(a) (a) The coordinating committee shall include representatives from all of the following: